The North Texas Tollway Authority announced Tuesday it had opened an additional lane of traffic in each direction on the President George Bush Turnpike between US 75 and SH 78.

The additional lanes come as part of a larger NTTA project to expand PGBT lanes, including between the Dallas North Tollway and I-35E, which is expected to be complete in late 2019, according to a news release.

“This is another part of NTTA’s commitment to decrease traffic congestion for our customers traveling on the President George Bush Turnpike,” Elizabeth Mow, NTTA assistant executive director of infrastructure, said in a prepared statement. “We have multiple planned and ongoing widening projects on the Turnpike that will enhance the driving experience for our customers.”

Other portions of PGBT to be expanded include between I-35E and north of Belt Line Road in Irving and between SH 183 and I-20, according to the news release. Both projects are still in their design phases.

Construction for the Plano portion of the project began in June 2017, and the additional lanes were built along the PGBT median.

Gavin got his chops as a reporter when he was editor-in-chief of the Baylor Lariat. He graduated with a degree in journalism from Baylor University and has since come on board as the reporter for Community Impact Newspaper's Plano edition. His beat includes transportation, Plano ISD and municipal government.